I used to think of self-care as something only other people had time for, as it seemed like more of a hobby or even a luxury activity, which involved going on endless spa breaks and yoga retreats, but as I've got older, I've learnt that the act of self-care can be small, seemingly insignificant changes, which can be woven into our daily routines, benefitting our overall wellbeing and therefore quality of life.
Self-care, simply defined, is the act of doing something for yourself, in order to protect, maintain or improve your individual health and wellbeing. Interested? Here are three easy ways to fit a bit of self-care into your working day.
1. Stay Hydrated
It sounds obvious as adults are made up of around 60% water but stay hydrated! The NHS recommends that we drink around 1.2 litres of water a day and no, just for the record, if it's in your coffee it doesn't count. Drinking water has a huge amount of benefits including boosting your mood, relieving tiredness and boosting energy levels. Have a headache? Drink water! Back pain? Water again! Hungover? I think you already know the answer to that one, however, the list of benefits to drinking water is truly endless, so stay hydrated. I like to keep a bottle on my desk at all times, just to remind me to drink.
2. Decorate Your Space
Make your space your own! Most of us spend at least 5 out of 7 days in the office or at work, so make yourself at home! Declutter your space to reduce stress levels, add a personal touch or two and get some foliage in there. A study by the Agricultural University of Norway found that introduction of plants to an office was linked to a 25% decrease in symptoms of ill health, including fatigue, concentration problems and dry skin. Also, a glimpse of nature has been proven to shift the brain into a more relaxed mode.
3. Take A Break
Recent stats are showing that more and more of us are choosing to eat lunch at our desks. Yes, it is wise to be thrifty and bring a packed lunch, but do we really need to eat it at our desks? We're all aware that staring at a screen all day can be detrimental to our health, so why not give your eyes a break, de-stress and get some fresh air? Taking a break can result in fewer aches and pains, better digestion and a study at Bristol University found that when workers took a walk during their lunch break, they returned with 41% more motivation and a 21% spike in their concentration. That's got to make you feel better right?
So, to summarise, self-care doesn't have to be a grand gesture that you announce to the world, or expensive and time-consuming. Got any more ideas on self-care or want to keep updated on how we do it here at Class 1? Follow us on Twitter and let us know your thoughts :) https://twitter.com/C1Personnel